Lessons Learned & Learning 10: 300 Days of Maintenance

Ejourneys

Chemo Edition #6

My 30-day maintenance update is here:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1176760-lessons-learned-learning-first-30-days-of-maintenance
60-day update:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1202553-lessons-learned-learning-2-60-days-of-maintenance
90-day update:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1228283-lessons-learned-learning-3-90-days-of-maintenance
120-day upate:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1253362-lessons-learned-learning-4-120-days-of-maintenance
150-day update:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1290642-lessons-learned-learning-5-150-days-of-maintenance
180-day update:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1321007-lessons-learned-learning-6-180-days-of-maintenance
210-day update:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1356923-lessons-learned-learning-7-210-days-of-maintenance
240-day update:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1400014-lessons-learned-learning-8-240-days-of-maintenance
270-day update:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1438678-lessons-learned-learning-9-270-days-of-maintenance

My tenth 30 days looked like this:


Here's how the ten 30-day periods compare:


Weight: I had reached my goal weight of 150 lbs. on Dec. 17, 2013. According to MFP, that would place my net calories at 1600 for maintenance.

This latest 30-day period continued my weekly Taxol chemo infusions. For the most part, my weight continued its regular, small fluctuations. Between days 271-300, it ranged from 146.5 (Sept. 16 and 17) to 150 (Sept. 25, 28, 29, and Oct. 4 and 5). My average weight was 148.55. Average weight through maintenance continues to be pretty rock solid.

Exercise Calories Burned: I took 1 rest day (0 calories burned) during maintenance days 271-300, compared with 2 rest days during maintenance days 241-270, 1 rest day during maintenance days 211-240, 2 rest days during maintenance days 181-210, 1 rest day over days 151-180, 3 rest days over days 121-150, 5 rest days over days 91-120, 3 rest days over days 61-90, 4 rest days over days 31-60, and 2 rest days over days 1-30.

My average exercise calories burned for this period (including my rest days) equaled 403/day, with the highest burn being 445 on Sept. 13.

Total and Net Calories Consumed: Total calories for maintenance days 271-300 averaged 1935/day and ranged from 1488 (Sept. 27) to 2257 (Oct. 8). Net calories (total calories minus exercise calories burned) averaged 1532/day (96 percent of maintenance) and ranged from 1072 (Sept 27) to 1835 (Aug. 21).

Unlike during the preceding period, the highs and lows for calorie consumption and exercise burn have no direct correspondence to chemo days.


Cancer Update: My side effects from Taxol continue to be mild: edema in calf and foot (a half inch above baseline at most, with no discomfort), fatigue, and metallic "chemo mouth." Prilosec continues to relieve chemo-induced heartburn. Wearing an earloop mask when at home has done a good job of keeping my nasal passages moist and I've had no further problem with nosebleeds.

My total protein continues to be low, but not by much, and I continue to exceed my recommended protein macro. I also continue to be anemic, but my white blood cell and neutrophil counts have been climbing, so my immunity has rebounded a bit.

The iron infusions have done their job; my iron is now in the normal range and my energy has been much better, especially within the past week. I have also been eating more iron-rich foods. A half-cup of raisins (not packed) has around 7% of the Daily Value of iron. A half-cup of cashews has 20%. I'll have both together as a meal or a very substantial snack. A half-cup of pumpkin seeds has 6%. Iron also appears in leafy green vegetables (3% for a cup of shredded romaine) and broccoli (4% for a cup of chopped broccoli).

Compare that with 4 oz. of lean ground beef, which has 16%. I've avoided red meat since I started treatment; even prior to diagnosis I ate it only once or twice a month. Recent research has suggested a potential link between red meat consumption and breast cancer (mainly in premenopausal women), though there is still no solid evidence of this connection according to Cancer Research UK (http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2014/06/11/red-meat-and-breast-cancer-still-no-solid-evidence/). Even so, "Based on research over many years there’s now a large body of evidence supporting a link between people who eat a lot of red or processed meat and their chances of developing bowel cancer. And there’s growing evidence for a possible link to both stomach and pancreatic cancers."

Even though I'm postmenopausal, I stayed away from red meat. But with chemo knocking my iron to the curb, I've had to rethink that. I added ground beef to my usual order of veggies from our chemical-free local farmer's market.

Last Tuesday I drove the 15 or so miles into town to shop at the natural foods store. On the way back home I stopped at the large supermarket, not to be confused with our little neighborhood market a quarter-mile from home, because I knew the large market carried buffalo. How much iron did that have?

I checked the package at the meat counter and swooned: 40% of DV for 4 oz.! That's 2.5 times the iron in ground beef. It's not often that a Nutrition Facts panel makes my day.

My Chemo Countdown meditation doodles continue:

Large view: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5594/15280569405_a0711fd2bb_o.jpg


Large view: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2946/15330515406_83e1baa427_o.jpg


Large view: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2948/15421929322_1e58c75300_o.jpg


Large view: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5604/15467460236_9d6862844d_o.jpg

One infusion left! This past Friday I met with my radiation oncologist and his team, and will begin radiation treatments the week after chemo ends. In the meantime I've been prepped.



The two circled dots are my tattoos, so that they know where to aim the beam. The scar beneath my armpit at left is from my sentinel lymph node biopsy. The bump on my upper chest at right is my chemo port, with a line that runs up to my jugular vein. Chemo is delivered through the port and blood samples are also taken through it. It's a wonderful device that saves a lot of wear and tear on my veins.

Once I start radiation, it will last for about six weeks, with treatments Monday through Friday.

RaspberryTickleChicken

WOW!!

Consider me humbled.

luluinca

Good luck with your continuing treatments Elissa. Your attention to detail and openness is a true inspiration. Only good thoughts being sent your way!